Update (March 14 30, 2012): I have ordered my model, and will post have posted real picturessometime in April (or earlier if possible).

Update (March 11, 2012): Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Due to a flaw in my model spotted by EB member Nick-Name, I am extending my suggestion deadline to March 14, 2012. (See the most current version of this model here.)

Samurai X (a.k.a., Nya) is one of my most favorite Ninjago characters. The design of her minifigure is awesome. I thought it was neat that she was getting her own mech in the summer (as seen at Toyfair), but at the same time, I thought her mech didn't look quite right to me, so I built my own power suit for her.

Click any image to enlarge it (except the 5th one).

Front

Sword side

Rocket side

Back (with armor plate)

Top view (no larger image available; I didn't see any sense in making one)

Before you ask, I do intend to buy the bricks for this model (sans special effects) via LEGO's online Pick A Brick store. (I already have the minifigure, the windscreen, and a few other pieces.) However, I would like some feedback on the design before I make my purchase and build this MOC in real life, please. Thank you.

I should have real-life pics ready sometime around April (approximately).

All jokes aside, I love this! It's much better than the official set, IMO, and the HF parts give it a sleek look. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the boot jets, they look a little too clunky to me for the general aesthetic of this.

This is one of the best System/Hero Factory combination MOCs I've seen! I'd love to see it constructed for real!

Admittedly, it doesn't look much more like her ride from the show than the set does. I'd like to see a MOC that captured the way the one in the show opens, with "doors" on the front of the vehicle unfolding.

All jokes aside, I love this! It's much better than the official set, IMO, and the HF parts give it a sleek look. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the boot jets, they look a little too clunky to me for the general aesthetic of this.

I see what you mean by the boot jets. I'll try a jetpack on the back instead.

This is one of the best System/Hero Factory combination MOCs I've seen! I'd love to see it constructed for real!

Me too! I plan to order it from PAB next week.

Quote

Admittedly, it doesn't look much more like her ride from the show than the set does. I'd like to see a MOC that captured the way the one in the show opens, with "doors" on the front of the vehicle unfolding.

My aim with this model was to build something that was mostly different from the official set, while retaining a few key aspects (e.g., the color scheme and the shoulder pads). I think I'll keep my current cockpit design, since I want to use that windscreen. The part in my collection has a slightly bent hinge which prevented it from closing completely on Jay's Storm Fighter (it's been replaced), but I think that defect won't affect this model.

-Toa Of Justice

EDIT 2 (3/5/12): I just saw the real mech in action today, and not only does my new jetpack seem to be more accurate than the previous jet boots, it also seems my cockpit design opens similarly to the one in the TV show.

I would suggest removing the Trans-Orange cones and inverting the rest, however (What I mean by "inverting": Flipping the golden chalices upside-down and attaching the bottom of the rocket to the side of the chalice that is now facing downward)

I would suggest removing the Trans-Orange cones and inverting the rest, however (What I mean by "inverting": Flipping the golden chalices upside-down and attaching the bottom of the rocket to the side of the chalice that is now facing downward)

Those cones appear to be trans-orange, but they're actually trans-red. I tried your suggestion in both LDD and real life, and unfortunately, since the other side of the chalice is designed to accept the bottom of a 1x1 round plate/brick (or of a tube in any stud-and-tube plate/brick of at least 2x2 studs), I couldn't make the rocket element connect directly to the chalice in the orientation I had before. Here's what I came up with instead:

I build the mech after your LDD instructions, but the back always falls. You should try to modify the brick that holds the shoulder pads.
I made my own mech and i made a LDD project. The color scheme is exactly like the real one that i made (i didn't have golden pieces)
Hope you like it!
P.S. I will put pictures of my version if you like it!

I build the mech after your LDD instructions, but the back always falls. You should try to modify the brick that holds the shoulder pads.
I made my own mech and i made a LDD project. The color scheme is exactly like the real one that i made (i didn't have golden pieces)
Hope you like it!
P.S. I will put pictures of my version if you like it!

Well, as it turns out, I was away from home for most of today and did not have time to order my model just yet. Thanks for spotting the back flaw. I'll modify my model to fix the back and post it tomorrow.

Personally, I prefer the legs and arms of my version. Also, those red shoulder pads on your version stand out a bit too much to me. Good job otherwise though!

New Deadline for suggestions: March 14, 2012

-Toa Of Justice

EDIT: Yes, pictures of your model would be nice to see!

EDIT 2: I think I fixed the back. I realized that one of the 1x4 TECHNIC bricks was illegally colliding with the central ball on the torso beam. I changed the entire structure back there, and filled in some gaps at the same time.

I also noticed that the upper arm armor orientation on Nick-Name's model seemed to allow for more flexibility than on my model, so I changed mine to match. In addition, I decided to put back the left arm armor and put the rocket launcher assembly in the left hand.

To make the Rattlecopter "fly", I held its tail with my left hand and photographed the scene using my right hand. I tried to make the main rotor spin several times, but by the time my camera decided it was OK to shoot, the rotor stopped spinning...

Here is Samurai X's Power Suit compared to Hero Recon Team member Faith Stealth Power. More pictures of Faith can be found in this topic. Also, her Brickshelf gallery should be public soon.

I decided to take your final version of the model and upgrade it in LDD. I recoloured some stuff and added black claw pieces to the shoulder pads, which I recoloured red. I recoloured the 3 armour pieces gold and that's pretty much all I did...no wait, I also coloured the engine piece on the back gold. That's all I did to it. You like the sound of it?

I decided to take your final version of the model and upgrade it in LDD. I recoloured some stuff and added black claw pieces to the shoulder pads, which I recoloured red. I recoloured the 3 armour pieces gold and that's pretty much all I did...no wait, I also coloured the engine piece on the back gold. That's all I did to it. You like the sound of it?

I can't say yet. I am interested in your modifications, but I'd like to see the LDD file before I pass judgment, please. I might be able to take a quick photo of the real version with some of your modifications (provided that I have the right pieces).